Tire tread rubber containing uintahite

Abstract

This invention is based upon the unexpected discovery that uintahite can be incorporated into tire component rubber to improve the physical properties thereof. For example, by incorporating uintahite into tire tread rubber compositions, tires with improved tear and puncture resistance can be manufactured. Since uintahite is a relatively low cost material, its incorporation into tires also reduces cost. For instance, uintahite can be incorporated into a wide variety of tire rubber compounds used in the tread (including the base and the cap), sidewall, apex, chafer, bead coat, toeguard, innerliner, ply coat, gum strips, coverstrip, overlay and wedge stocks. This invention more specifically discloses a pneumatic tire which is comprised of a generally toroidal-shaped carcass, an outer circumferential tread which is adapted to be ground contacting, two spaced beads and two sidewalls extending radially from said spaced beads and connecting said tread to said spaced beads, wherein said tread is comprised of at least one rubbery polymer and from about 1 phr to about 20 phr of uintahite.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A sulfur-cured tire rubber composition which is comprised of at least one rubbery polymer and from about 1 phr to about 20 phr of uintahite, wherein the sulfur-cured tire rubber composition is free of crosslinked fatty acids. 
     
     
       2. A sulfur-cured tire rubber composition as specified in claim  1  wherein the uintahite is virgin uintahite. 
     
     
       3. A sulfur-cured tire rubber composition as specified in claim  2  wherein the rubbery polymer is one or more polydiene rubbers. 
     
     
       4. A sulfur-cured tire rubber composition as specified in claim  3  wherein the uintahite is present at a level which is within the range of about 2 phr to about 15 phr. 
     
     
       5. A sulfur-cured tire rubber composition as specified in claim  3  wherein the uintahite is present at a level which is within the range of about 3 phr to about 10 phr. 
     
     
       6. A sulfur-cured tire rubber composition as specified in claim  3  wherein the uintahite is present at a level which is within the range of about 4 phr to about 6 phr. 
     
     
       7. A sulfur-cured tire rubber composition as specified in claim  1  wherein the uintahite is hydrocarbon solvent extracted uintahite. 
     
     
       8. A sulfur-cured tire rubber composition as specified in claim  7  wherein the rubbery polymer is one or more polydiene rubbers. 
     
     
       9. A sulfur-cured tire rubber composition as specified in claim  3  wherein the uintahite is present at a level which is within the range of about 2 phr to about 15 phr. 
     
     
       10. A sulfur-cured tire rubber composition as specified in claim  5  wherein polybutadiene rubber and styrene-butadiene rubber are present as polydiene rubbers. 
     
     
       11. A sulfur-cured tire rubber composition as specified in claim  1  wherein said sulfur-cured tire rubber composition is in the form of a sidewall. 
     
     
       12. A sulfur-cured tire rubber composition as specified in claim  1  wherein said sulfur-cured tire rubber composition is in the form of an apex. 
     
     
       13. A sulfur-cured tire rubber composition as specified in claim  1  wherein said sulfur-cured tire rubber composition is in the form of a chafer. 
     
     
       14. A sulfur-cured tire rubber composition as specified in claim  1  wherein said sulfur-cured tire rubber composition is in the form of a bead coat. 
     
     
       15. A sulfur-cured tire rubber composition as specified in claim  1  wherein said sulfur-cured tire rubber composition is in the form of a toeguard. 
     
     
       16. A sulfur-cured tire rubber composition as specified in claim  1  wherein said sulfur-cured tire rubber composition is in the form of an innerliner. 
     
     
       17. A sulfur-cured tire rubber composition as specified in claim  1  wherein said sulfur-cured tire rubber composition is in the form of a ply coat. 
     
     
       18. A sulfur-cured tire rubber composition as specified in claim  1  wherein said sulfur-cured tire rubber composition is in the form of a gum strip. 
     
     
       19. A sulfur-cured tire rubber composition as specified in claim  1  wherein said sulfur-cured tire rubber composition is in the form of a wedge stock. 
     
     
       20. A pneumatic tire having an outer circumferential tread where said tread is a sulfur-cured rubber composition which is comprised of at least one rubbery polymer and from about 1 to about 20 phr of uintahite, wherein the tread is free of crosslinked fatty acids. 
     
     
       21. A pneumatic tire as specified in claim  20  wherein the uintahite is virgin uintahite. 
     
     
       22. A pneumatic tire as specified in claim  21  wherein the uintahite is present as a level which is within the range of about 2 phr to about 15 phr. 
     
     
       23. A pneumatic tire as specified in claim  22  wherein the rubbery polymer is at least one polydiene rubber. 
     
     
       24. A pneumatic tire as specified in claim  23  wherein the uintahite is present at a level which is within the range of about 3 phr to about 10 phr. 
     
     
       25. A pneumatic tire as specified in claim  23  wherein the uintahite is present at a level which is within the range of about 4 phr to about 6 phr. 
     
     
       26. A pneumatic tire which is comprised of a generally toroidal-shaped carcass, an outer circumferential tread which is adapted to be ground contacting, two spaced beads and two sidewalls extending radially from said spaced beads and connecting said tread to said spaced beads, wherein said tread is comprised of (a) at least one rubbery polymer and (b) from about 1 phr to about 20 phr of uintahite, wherein said tread is free of crosslinked fatty acids. 
     
     
       27. A pneumatic tire as specified in claim  26  wherein the uintahite is virgin uintahite. 
     
     
       28. A pneumatic tire as specified in claim  27  wherein the uintahite is present at a level which is within the range of about 2 phr to about 15 phr. 
     
     
       29. A pneumatic tire as specified in claim  28  wherein the rubbery polymer is at least one polydiene rubber. 
     
     
       30. A sulfur-cured tire rubber composition as specified in claim  1  wherein said sulfur-cured tire rubber composition is in the form of a coverstrip. 
     
     
       31. A sulfur-cured tire rubber composition as specified in claim  1  wherein said sulfur-cured tire rubber composition is in the form of an overlay. 
     
     
       32. A sulfur-cured tire rubber composition as specified in claim  1  wherein said sulfur-cured tire rubber composition is free of starch. 
     
     
       33. A sulfur-cured tire rubber composition which is comprised of at least one rubbery polymer and from about 1 phr to about 20 phr of uintahite, wherein the sulfur-cured tire rubber composition is free of starch. 
     
     
       34. A sulfur-cured tire rubber composition as specified in claim  33  wherein the uintahite is virgin uintahite. 
     
     
       35. A sulfur-cured tire rubber composition as specified in claim  34  wherein the rubbery polymer is one or more polydiene rubbers. 
     
     
       36. A sulfur-cured tire rubber composition as specified in claim  35  wherein the uintahite is present at a level which is within the range of about 2 phr to about 15 phr. 
     
     
       37. A sulfur-cured tire rubber composition as specified in claim  35  wherein the uintahite is present at a level which is within the range of about 3 phr to about 10 phr. 
     
     
       38. A sulfur-cured tire rubber composition as specified in claim  35  wherein the uintahite is present at a level which is within the range of about 4 phr to about 6 phr. 
     
     
       39. A sulfur-cured tire rubber composition as specified in claim  33  wherein the uintahite is hydrocarbon solvent extracted uintahite. 
     
     
       40. A sulfur cured tire rubber composition as specified in claim  39  wherein the rubbery polymer is one or more polydiene rubbers. 
     
     
       41. A sulfur-cured tire rubber composition as specified in claim  40  wherein the uintahite is present at a level which is within the range of about 2 phr to about 15 phr. 
     
     
       42. A sulfur-cured tire rubber composition as specified in claim  41  wherein polybutadiene rubber and styrene-butadiene rubber are present as polydiene rubbers. 
     
     
       43. A sulfur-cured tire rubber composition as specified in claim  33  wherein said sulfur-cured tire rubber composition is in the form of a sidewall. 
     
     
       44. A sulfur-cured tire rubber composition as specified in claim  33  wherein said sulfur-cured tire rubber composition is in the form of an apex. 
     
     
       45. A sulfur-cured tire rubber composition as specified in claim  33  wherein said sulfur-cured tire rubber composition is in the form of a chafer. 
     
     
       46. A sulfur-cured tire rubber composition as specified in claim  33  wherein said sulfur-cured tire rubber composition is in the form of a bead coat. 
     
     
       47. A sulfur-cured tire rubber composition as specified in claim  33  wherein said sulfur-cured tire rubber composition is in the form of a toeguard. 
     
     
       48. A sulfur-cured tire rubber composition as specified in claim  33  wherein said sulfur-cured tire rubber composition is in the form of an innerliner. 
     
     
       49. A sulfur-cured tire rubber composition as specified in claim  33  wherein said sulfur-cured tire rubber composition is in the form of a ply coat. 
     
     
       50. A sulfur-cured tire rubber composition as specified in claim  33  wherein said sulfur-cured tire rubber composition is in the form of a gum strip. 
     
     
       51. A sulfur-cured tire rubber composition as specified in claim  33  wherein said sulfur-cured tire rubber composition is in the form of a wedge stock. 
     
     
       52. A pneumatic tire having an outer circumferential tread where said tread is a sulfur-cured rubber composition which is comprised of at least one rubbery polymer and from about 1 to about 20 phr of uintahite, wherein the tread is free of starch. 
     
     
       53. A pneumatic tire as specified in claim  52  wherein the uintahite is virgin uintahite. 
     
     
       54. A pneumatic tire as specified in claim  53  wherein the uintahite is present as a level which is within the range of about 2 phr to about 15 phr. 
     
     
       55. A pneumatic tire as specified in claim  54  wherein the rubbery polymer is at least one polydiene rubber. 
     
     
       56. A pneumatic tire as specified in claim  55  wherein the uintahite is present at a level which is within the range of about 3 phr to about 10 phr. 
     
     
       57. A pneumatic tire as specified in claim  55  wherein the uintahite is present at a level which is within the range of about 4 phr to about 6 phr. 
     
     
       58. A pneumatic tire which is comprised of a generally toroidal-shaped carcass, an outer circumferential tread which is adapted to be ground contacting, two spaced beads and two sidewalls extending radially from said spaced beads and connecting said tread to said spaced beads, wherein said tread is comprised of (a) at least one rubbery polymer and (b) from about 1 phr to about 20 phr of uintahite, wherein said tread is free of starch. 
     
     
       59. A pneumatic tire as specified in claim  58  wherein the uintahite is virgin uintahite. 
     
     
       60. A pneumatic tire as specified in claim  59  wherein the uintahite is present at a level which is within the range of about 2 phr to about 15 phr. 
     
     
       61. A pneumatic tire as specified in claim  60  wherein the rubbery polymer is at least one polydiene rubber.